Some scholars have suggested that the brain network (default network) activated during mind wandering plays a role in understanding other people’s mental states: people are better at reading other people s minds after mind wandering…
It could therefore serve a purpose.
It would be interesting to hear Richie’s and Cortland’s opinion about this.
Good point, Thomas. There are actually many constructive roles that the DMN - default mode network - (and the thinking mind) play, from creative ideation to savoring positive memories. So the point is definitely not that we should simply turn this network off. It exists for a reason. The main issue is that we often have little capacity to self-regulate the activity of the DMN, such as when we're stuck in a loop of toxic rumination and yet feel powerless to stop ruminating. The take home from this and other research is that what we need most is the ability to regulate our mental and emotional states, not to suppress or eliminate them. Lots to say here, but hopefully that sheds a little light on the matter. I'm sure we'll talk a lot more about this in future DL episodes, so please stay tuned!
Hi Cort and Richie. I have heard you two mention this study for years and it has always confused me. Some of my happiest, most creative time is spent with my mind wandering. Sometimes I find new insights. Sometimes I just find contentment. Awareness always seems purposeful and requires energy. But when I can let my mind wander, look at the clouds or just sit in a chair, I am completely at ease and relaxed. I love those times.
Why is my experience so different from your study? Sometimes I wonder if as a society, we have become so transactional that we think all of our mind-time should be spent in productive activities. Why doesn't free-association bring pleasure to people?
At age 76, I am alarmed to realize that I can sometimes be thinking about two things at once! When I taught art to little kids, I sometimes noticed that although I’d been reading a book aloud to the kids I had no idea of what I’d been reading and had been thinking of something totally different.
Now I find that pretty much whatever I’m doing, I get the urge to pick up my phone every couple of minutes and “check” something or share what I’ve been reading,
Help! My brain feels like it’s constantly being hit by a tsunami.
Thanks Ann. The first thing to say is that you are definitely not alone. Pretty much the entirety of humanity is struggling with the same issue. It's a challenging time to be alive. But the fact that you are noticing these moments is a huge piece of the puzzle. Without noticing the pattern, there's nothing to change. So perhaps the first thing is to celebrate moments when you notice the impulse and the habits. We usually beat ourselves up when this happens rather than appreciating the self-awareness. Building on these brief glimpses of awareness, you can set an intention to not grab your phone for at least 5 seconds after an alert, or to only use it during specific windows. It really doesn't matter what the intention is, it's more that you actually have a conscious intention about how to use your phone. You can use all these moments in life as opportunities to explore your mind and bring more awareness to the forces that are shaping your mind. It's a humbling experience, but also remarkably interesting and transformative.
Thank you for a great article. I have a question. Are there any positives with mind wandering?
Some scholars have suggested that the brain network (default network) activated during mind wandering plays a role in understanding other people’s mental states: people are better at reading other people s minds after mind wandering…
It could therefore serve a purpose.
It would be interesting to hear Richie’s and Cortland’s opinion about this.
Good point, Thomas. There are actually many constructive roles that the DMN - default mode network - (and the thinking mind) play, from creative ideation to savoring positive memories. So the point is definitely not that we should simply turn this network off. It exists for a reason. The main issue is that we often have little capacity to self-regulate the activity of the DMN, such as when we're stuck in a loop of toxic rumination and yet feel powerless to stop ruminating. The take home from this and other research is that what we need most is the ability to regulate our mental and emotional states, not to suppress or eliminate them. Lots to say here, but hopefully that sheds a little light on the matter. I'm sure we'll talk a lot more about this in future DL episodes, so please stay tuned!
Hi Cort and Richie. I have heard you two mention this study for years and it has always confused me. Some of my happiest, most creative time is spent with my mind wandering. Sometimes I find new insights. Sometimes I just find contentment. Awareness always seems purposeful and requires energy. But when I can let my mind wander, look at the clouds or just sit in a chair, I am completely at ease and relaxed. I love those times.
Why is my experience so different from your study? Sometimes I wonder if as a society, we have become so transactional that we think all of our mind-time should be spent in productive activities. Why doesn't free-association bring pleasure to people?
At age 76, I am alarmed to realize that I can sometimes be thinking about two things at once! When I taught art to little kids, I sometimes noticed that although I’d been reading a book aloud to the kids I had no idea of what I’d been reading and had been thinking of something totally different.
Now I find that pretty much whatever I’m doing, I get the urge to pick up my phone every couple of minutes and “check” something or share what I’ve been reading,
Help! My brain feels like it’s constantly being hit by a tsunami.
Thanks Ann. The first thing to say is that you are definitely not alone. Pretty much the entirety of humanity is struggling with the same issue. It's a challenging time to be alive. But the fact that you are noticing these moments is a huge piece of the puzzle. Without noticing the pattern, there's nothing to change. So perhaps the first thing is to celebrate moments when you notice the impulse and the habits. We usually beat ourselves up when this happens rather than appreciating the self-awareness. Building on these brief glimpses of awareness, you can set an intention to not grab your phone for at least 5 seconds after an alert, or to only use it during specific windows. It really doesn't matter what the intention is, it's more that you actually have a conscious intention about how to use your phone. You can use all these moments in life as opportunities to explore your mind and bring more awareness to the forces that are shaping your mind. It's a humbling experience, but also remarkably interesting and transformative.
Thanks!
I get impatient….